Applique attachment for sewing machines



Feb. 12, 1946. I v H, R RALL 2,394,873

APPLIQUE ATTACHMENT F03 SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1944 INV ENT OR. /aeey 7055er PAP/1L L Patented Feb. 12, 1946 APPLIQU ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING Harry R. Prall, Upper Darby, Pa.; vSvi/arthmore National Bank and Trust Company, administrator of .said Harry R. Prall, deceased, assigner to B. L. Braun Application August s, 1944, serial N0. *547,845V y (o1. i12- 139) l 2 Claims.

This invention relates'to appliqu attachment-s for sewing machines such as are employed in applying appliqu to fabrics.

A conventional sewing machine ordinarily in# cludes a presser bar that carries a presser foot. During sewing operations the work is held between this presser foot and the bed of the machine. The presser bar is raised or lowered to cause a corresponding movement on the part of the foot when it becomes necessary to make a change in the work.

When a sewing machine is used for the purpose of applying appliqu, such as braid or embroidery, tofabrics, it has been the practice to employ a presser foot that includes an yopening through which the appliqu passes. The needle of the machine during stitching operationsY passes through this opening and `centrally thereof. Theoretically, the needle is intended to pierce the center of the appliqu. However, due to the fact that in many instances there is a, discrepancy between the size of the opening and the appliqu, a shifting `ci" the latter is possible which causes the needle to pierce the Aapplique vat a peint removed from the center thereof.

Furthermore, from the very nature of the type of work being done it is necessary that the appliqu be attached along lines including curves and bends and when such lines are accommodated there is an inevitable tendency for the appliqu to assume diicult angular positions with respect to the opening in the presser foot. The same undesirable result is forthcoming in that the needle will not pierce the exact center of the appliqu under these conditions.

Certain atmpts have been made tol partially remedy this condition, such as providingpresser feet with openings of dierent sizes, each sized opening being intended to accommodate a corresponding size of appliqu. It isvobvious that such an arrangement calls for frequent changes in the presser foot of the machine, with the accompanying loss of time.

Attempts have also been made to guide the appliqu and maintain a constant angular relation with respect to the opening in the presser foot. However, these have not been entirely satisfactory, particularly in the difliculties presented in threading the appliqu through the opening in the presser foot, and further, because the guiding functions have not been properly carriedV out.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, this invention has in View, as its foremost objective,

the provision of an appliqu attachment for sew'- ing machines which includes a presser foot of novel construction and with which is associated guiding means for accurately controlling lthe appliqu with respect to the opening in the presser foot.

More in detail, the 'invention has in mind an arrangement 'in which the presser foot is formed with an opening which is Variable in size. In carrying out thisV idea, the opening takes van elongated form and communicating therewith is a slot atone side through which the appliqu work may be passed, thus eliminating the need for the threading operations. A guide plate is slidably carried by the presser foot and is movable to close the slot at the side andy vary the size of the opening in the presser foot so that the latter will accurately conform to the size of the appliqu. y

Another important object of the invention is the provisionof a presser foot which carries at one side an angularly disposed ange which is formed with the elongated opening and slot aforesaid. Thisinclined harige ralso carries the guide plate. With this'side iiange so angularly disposed the veiecti've end of the opening in which the appliqu iis positioned is located at the joinder of the'flat bottom of the presser foot and the inclined side flange. Thus, the operator isenabied to accurately follow the lines which the appliqu is intended to take.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of novel means for guiding the appliqu with respect to the opening in the presser foot.

In accordance with this objective of the invention, a piece of metal is struck from the flange atthe side to provide a loop having an entrance at the same side as the slot. Thus, the appliqu may be inserted into this loop at the same time that it is passed through the slot in the side flange of the presser foot. e The guide plate carries anv upturned riange that is formed with a notch in alignment withthis loop and the elongated opcning in the presser foot. During actual sewing operations, the appliqu will pass through the notch in the ange of the guide plate and be maintained in this notch by the loop. IThe braid passes beneath the loop and through the opening inthe presser foot. l

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the'invention proceeds` The invention, therefore, comprises an ap-A pliqu attachment for sewing machines consisting of a presser foot having an inwardly inclined flange at one side. An elongated opening is formed in this flange and the opening terminates at the joinder of the flange and the flat bottom of the presser foot. A slot extends from the side of the flange into this opening. A guide plate is slidably Vcarried by this flange and an upturned flange on the guide plate is formed with a notch. A strip of metal is integrally joined to the inclined flange of the presser foot and formed with a loop in alignment with the notch in the guide plate and the elongated opening.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the side of the parts of a sewing machine with which this invention is concerned, l

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective of the presser foot per se, while Figure 3 is a detail perspective of the guide plate that is carried by the presser foot, and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the presser foot and guide foot in assembled relation.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and first more particularly to Figure 1, the presser bar of a sewing machine is depicted at I0. This presser bar is raised or lowered by the actuating lever shown at II, the operating connections between the lever II and bar I being well-known in this art and not herein illustrated. The lower portion of the presser lbar I0 is flattened out, as shown at I2, and a set screw, represented at I3, is threaded into a screw opening in the lower portion I2 of the presser bar. The appliqu attachment of this invention comprises a presser foot which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character F, and a guide piece G which is carried thereby. The presser foot F includes a channel structure designated C and which channel structure is made up of side flanges I4 and I5 and a bottom I6. The channel C is intended to receive the lower portion |2 of the presser bar I9 and in order for this relation to be established, it is necessary that the set screw I3 be accommodated. Accordingly, a slot I1 is formed in the side I4 and bottom I6. It is obvious that the set screw I3 may be tightened to securely clamp the channel structure C on the lower portion I2 of the presser bar I0.

Integrally connected with the side flange I5 is a flat bottom I8 that is designed to engage the work which may rest on the bed of the sewing machine. Integrally connected to the flat bottom I8, and extending in an upwardly inclined direction from the side thereof, is an inclined flange I9, the line of joinder between the bottom I 8 and flange |9 being depicted at 20.

An elongated opening 2| is formed in the side flange I9 and this opening is continued down a slight distance into the bottom I8 beyond the line 29. A slot 22 extends from a free edge of the side flange I9 into the opening 2| and communication with this opening is thus established so that a piece of appliqu may be passed into the opening 2l. 4

At the side edges of the inclined flange I9 are downturned ears 23, the end portions of which are spaced from the flange I9 to provide guideways designated 24 which receive the free edges of the guide plate G, in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out. A strip of metal 25 is defined Cil by the formation of a slot 26 that extends into the ilange I9 from the same free edge that is formed with the slot 22, this strip 25 being integrally joined to the inclined ange I9, as represented at 21. The strip 25 is deformed to provide a loop 28 that is substantially in Valignment with the elongated opening 2|.

' 'Referring now more' particularly to Figure 3, the guide plate G is shown as comprising a main guide portion 29 and an upturned flange 30 that is integrally joined thereto by a bend represented at 3|. The main body portion 29 is intended to slidingly engage the underface of the inclined flange I 9 with the free edges of the part 29 snugly received in channels 2li. The upturned flange 38 is formed with a V-shaped notch 32 that is substantially in alignment with the loop 28 and opening 2|.

It is evident that abutment of the flange 30 with the end of side flange I9 limits movement in one direction of the guide G with respect to the foot F.

Whilerthe manner of usage of the above-described attachment is believed to be obvious, it may be briefly described by noting that prior to insertion of the appliqu, the guide G is withdrawn suilciently far to leave the slot 22 open. The appliqu is then passed through the slot into the opening 2I. At the same time it is passed through the slot 26 and beneath the strip 25 into the loop 28. With such an arrangement the appliqu work will naturally fall into the notch 32 wherein it will be maintained by the loop 28 as the latter inhibits upward movement of the appliqu. The guide plate G is now moved into the channels 24 to close the slot 22 and restrict the opening 2| so that the latter accurately conforms to the size of the appliqu.

The needle of the sewing machineis represented aty N in Figure 1 and is always arranged to pierce the opening 2| centrally thereof and closely adjacent the joinder line 20. At the point where the appliqu passes through the opening 2| there will always be a xed angular relation, due to the guiding effects of notch 32 and the fact that the appliqu is maintained in such notch by loop 28. With the flange I9 inclined upwardly, the operator isenabledto accurately perceive just where the needle end will pierce the work so that the latter may be exactly carried out.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice, within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An applique' attachment for sewing machines comprising a presser foot, means for attaching said presser foot to the presser bar of a sewing machine, said presser foot being formed with an opening adapted to receive a strip of appliqu, a guide plate slidably mounted on said presser foot and formed with an upturned flange carrying a notch adapted to receive said strip of appliqu, and a strip of metal struck from said presser foot and formed with a loop that overhangs said strip of appliqu to maintain the latter in said notch.

2. An appliqu attachment for sewing machines comprising a presser foot including a flat to receive a strip of appliqu, said ange being formed with another slot extending inwardly from the same edge as that carrying said rstlmentioned slot to dene a strip integrally joined to said flange and which strip is formed with a loop substantially in alignment with said opening and notch.

HARRY ROBT. PRALL. 

